I doubt if Butime was right to quit
Jun 25, 2006
THE resignation of the Minister of State for Karamoja, Col. Tom Butime, raises pertinent issues. <br>Butime has not fully explained why he resigned from Cabinet just two weeks after being sworn-in.
THE resignation of the Minister of State for Karamoja, Col. Tom Butime, raises pertinent issues.
Butime has not fully explained why he resigned from Cabinet just two weeks after being sworn-in. Prior to his resignation, Butime had caused anxiety among colleagues after he failed to show up at his new office and for important Cabinet meetings.
Butime was quoted saying that serving as minister of state for Karamoja would be a disservice to his electorate in Mwenge North. “I would rather remain a mere Member of Parliament and make an effective representation of my people who elected me instead of going to Karamoja,†he reportedly stated. Prior to his resignation, Butime’s supporters and area local leaders held a meeting in which they issued an ‘ultimatum’ to him to choose between being a state minister for Karamoja and MP for Mwenge North. The meeting in which some women reportedly threatened to strip naked if Butime took up his ministerial appointment appeared queer and suspicious.
In a country without a culture of ministers and other top government officials resigning or retiring, Butime’s resignation was remarkable and healthy even though the reasons that prompted him to do so may not be debatable. He did the right thing to resign if he believed his appointment as Karamoja state minister would serve no useful purpose. One should not take up a ministerial appointment for the sake of status or privileges that go with it.
However, Butime’s argument that Karamoja is too far from his constituency was strange. While acting as minister for foreign affairs, he regularly travelled abroad to represent the country at meetings. A foreign minister has little time to be in his constituency. Since Butime had no problem serving as minister of foreign affairs, I do not see why he should have any problem as minister of state for Karamoja. Could it be, therefore, that Butime and his supporters felt that it was a demotion for him to be appointed state minister for Karamoja? Some Toro leaders have stated that Butime deserved a “better†ministry because his area has consistently voted for President Museveni during presidential elections.
It is absurd for Butime’s supporters to think that they would be better off if he was appointed to what a “powerful†ministry. I believe that, as far as his Mwenge North constituency is concerned, it makes no difference whether he is a foreign minister, lands minister or state minister for Karamoja.
It is mere illusion to think that a district or constituency with a minister in a “powerful†ministry has any significant advantage over other districts or constituencies. It is this misconception that explains why President Museveni has come under intense pressure to appoint a minister from each district, constituency or tribe. This has necessitated appointment of a big Cabinet that is a burden to the tax-payer.
For example, are the teachers or schools in Mpigi district better off because the district woman MP, Namirembe Bitamazire, is the Minister for Education and Sports? Is Busiro North represented in Parliament by Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya better off in terms of government services than Issa Kikungwe’s Kyadondo South constituency? Obviously not.
Butime’s resignation further raises the question of whether it is appropriate for ministers to retain their parliamentary seats. A minister is supposed to serve the entire country, not just their constituencies. A minister and a Member of Parliament (MP) is a national leader. Ministers must regularly visit all parts of the country in order to have a national outlook and clear understanding of problems affecting the people in all parts of the country. Ministers should not just be in their constituencies because this reduces them to “constituency ministersâ€.
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Butime has not fully explained why he resigned from Cabinet just two weeks after being sworn-in. Prior to his resignation, Butime had caused anxiety among colleagues after he failed to show up at his new office and for important Cabinet meetings.
Butime was quoted saying that serving as minister of state for Karamoja would be a disservice to his electorate in Mwenge North. “I would rather remain a mere Member of Parliament and make an effective representation of my people who elected me instead of going to Karamoja,†he reportedly stated. Prior to his resignation, Butime’s supporters and area local leaders held a meeting in which they issued an ‘ultimatum’ to him to choose between being a state minister for Karamoja and MP for Mwenge North. The meeting in which some women reportedly threatened to strip naked if Butime took up his ministerial appointment appeared queer and suspicious.
In a country without a culture of ministers and other top government officials resigning or retiring, Butime’s resignation was remarkable and healthy even though the reasons that prompted him to do so may not be debatable. He did the right thing to resign if he believed his appointment as Karamoja state minister would serve no useful purpose. One should not take up a ministerial appointment for the sake of status or privileges that go with it.
However, Butime’s argument that Karamoja is too far from his constituency was strange. While acting as minister for foreign affairs, he regularly travelled abroad to represent the country at meetings. A foreign minister has little time to be in his constituency. Since Butime had no problem serving as minister of foreign affairs, I do not see why he should have any problem as minister of state for Karamoja. Could it be, therefore, that Butime and his supporters felt that it was a demotion for him to be appointed state minister for Karamoja? Some Toro leaders have stated that Butime deserved a “better†ministry because his area has consistently voted for President Museveni during presidential elections.
It is absurd for Butime’s supporters to think that they would be better off if he was appointed to what a “powerful†ministry. I believe that, as far as his Mwenge North constituency is concerned, it makes no difference whether he is a foreign minister, lands minister or state minister for Karamoja.
It is mere illusion to think that a district or constituency with a minister in a “powerful†ministry has any significant advantage over other districts or constituencies. It is this misconception that explains why President Museveni has come under intense pressure to appoint a minister from each district, constituency or tribe. This has necessitated appointment of a big Cabinet that is a burden to the tax-payer.
For example, are the teachers or schools in Mpigi district better off because the district woman MP, Namirembe Bitamazire, is the Minister for Education and Sports? Is Busiro North represented in Parliament by Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya better off in terms of government services than Issa Kikungwe’s Kyadondo South constituency? Obviously not.
Butime’s resignation further raises the question of whether it is appropriate for ministers to retain their parliamentary seats. A minister is supposed to serve the entire country, not just their constituencies. A minister and a Member of Parliament (MP) is a national leader. Ministers must regularly visit all parts of the country in order to have a national outlook and clear understanding of problems affecting the people in all parts of the country. Ministers should not just be in their constituencies because this reduces them to “constituency ministersâ€.
Ends